What it's like to live in Del Rio
Del Rio is a small city in Texas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Del Rio deals with household incomes below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and very hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- Very hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Del Rio compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Del Rio
Based on Del Rio's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,790
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $35,800 a year
- 45% of Del Rio renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$32,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $16,040
- Homes cost 2.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 37% below US
$895/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $895 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $160,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $160,400 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 21% above US
5.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 55% below US
147 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 987/100k · Del Rio Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 100°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 45°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Amistad National Recreation Area (16 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Del Rio's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($895/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for people who struggle with heat.
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